Flap actuator

A flap actuator, comprising a flap, an actuating drive for actuating the flap along an actuating path from a closed position to an open position, and a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism comprising a toggle joint having a first leg and a second leg, wherein the first leg is rotatably supported at a first rotation point, the second leg is rotatably supported via a second rotation point, and the first leg and the second leg are rotatably linked to each other at a moveable third rotation point, wherein;

• the second leg includes a guiding slot along a longitudinal direction of the second leg and the first leg includes a guiding projection engaging the guiding slot, wherein the guiding projection forms the third rotation point and is supported in the guiding slot to be moveable along the longitudinal direction;
• wherein the toggle joint comprises an elastic element which, when the flap is in its closed position, exerts a force on the toggle joint so that the toggle joint causes a restoring force on the flap in towards the closed position;
• and/or
• wherein the guiding slot has a length L and a width Br, wherein L>Br, and the second leg, at a position Pos2 along the longitudinal direction of the guiding slot at which the guiding projection is situated when the flap is in its closed position, includes a second recess having a width Br2, wherein Br2>Br, and wherein the guiding projection, when the flap is in its closed position, is in at least partial engagement with the second recess so that the toggle joint causes a retaining force and/or a restoring force on the flap in the closing direction.